A feast of amazing musical talent for Galway Arts Festival

Favourites from this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival ‘09 to play Galway Arts Festival

Athlone Advertiser, Fri, Jul 10, 2009

The Festival Big Top is set to join a list of iconic festivals that are hosting great musical talent this summer. Following their enchanting performance at this year’s Glastonbury music festival, American group Bon Iver will bring their haunting melodies from their critically acclaimed album For Emma, Forever Ago, to the Festival Big Top on Thursday, July 23 at 8.30pm. Having shared the ‘Other Stage’, one of Glastonbury’s main stages, with music greats including The Prodigy, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, Bon Iver’s Galway gig will offer the unique opportunity to savour the group’s acclaimed live performance in a unique setting following their sets on the stages of Glastonbury and Lollapalooza. Supporting Bon Iver at their Galway performance is Alela Diane, one of America’s most captivating contemporary singer/songwriters who has also just performed on Glastonbury’s The Park Stage. Following her performance at this years Glastonbury and having already caused a huge stir with her new release To Be Still, Alela Diane’s show with Bon Iver is the most highly anticipated musical performance in Galway this summer.

Other iconic music acts to play live at the Festival Big Top at Galway Arts Festival this July include Primal Scream, Spiritualized, David Gray, David Holmes, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and David Kitt.

Music From The Penguin Café’s blistering performance at this year’s Glastonbury is sure to make them a popular addition to the Galway Arts Festival line-up. Having played Glastonbury’s Acoustic Stage, the eclectic English group delighted the festival audience with song’s from The Penguin Café Orchestra as well as new material, reinforcing their ever-growing cult status and giving a taster of what will be a very special Galway show when they play the Radisson SAS Hotel on Friday July 17 at 9pm.

Emmy The Great did justice to her name at last weekend’s Glastonbury festival after her appearance on the John Peel Stage. Having earned comparisons to Lilly Allen and Laura Marling, Emmy’s refreshing sound and mocking lyrics stood out among the other big acts of Jarvis Cocker and Ladyhawke who took to the same stage over the weekend and her Galway show in the Roisin Dubh on Thursday July 16 at 8pm is sure to see another fantastic performance by this up-and-coming London artist.

As part of the Galway Arts Festival programme Roisin Dubh will play host to a range international music artists such as Candi Staton, famous for hit songs Young Hearts Fun Free and You’ve Got the Love who will perform on Sunday July19 at 9pm. The legendary Booker T, who cut the classic Green Onions and whose impeccable grooves could be heard on classic hits by Otis Reading and Wilson Pickett, will perform on TuesdayJuly 21 at 8pm while New York Dolls, famous for linking 60s rock to American punk, will perform on Friday July 17 at 8pm.

The 32nd Galway Arts Festival runs from July 13 to 26. The festival box office is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm (open until 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays ) and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Phone bookings can be made on (091 ) 566577 during those times. An online booking facility and programme details is also available on the festival website www.galwayartsfestival.com